TWI Programs

Quickly training employees to do a job correctly, safely, and conscientiously.

Job Instruction training is designed to develop basic stability of your processes (standard work). This program teaches the method to instruct an operator how to perform a job correctly, safely and conscientiously. As is frequently the case, most processes are performed by various workers using different methods. Job Instruction training requires you identify the “one best way,” teach the process to this one way, and thereby create a standard method. The basis of stability is generated by doing the same thing the same way across operators and shifts. By utilizing Job Instruction you gain the benefits of consistent training and also develop a stable process to apply continuous improvement upon. This lays a solid foundation for any continuous improvement program and is especially beneficial when you apply the TWI Job Methods program.

Benefits experienced when practicing the Job Instruction program are reduced training time, less scrap and rework, fewer accidents, and increased job satisfaction.

Job Instruction Follow-up

TWI training is the first step in the transformation to an organization with standard work, stable processes and continuous improvement. The work begins after the initial training ends. All too often unplanned events intervene in the progress on implementing TWI. Enter the coach. Ideally the TWI trainer who provided the initial training and knows the organization well will return to gauge progress, identify problems, suggest solutions and help realign goals. Over a three day period, the coach will meet with management, managers, trainers, supervisors and team leaders, to observe how TWI is being implemented. The TWI coach will review every aspect of a TWI implementation and develop concrete recommendations on how to move the TWI implementation to the next level.

Job Relations Training is an excellent place to start. If you are new to TWI or have not yet embarked upon a cultural shift in your organization towards continuous improvement, you will encounter many issues around people’s perception of upcoming changes. Job Relations training teaches supervisors how to handle problems, how to prevent them from occurring, and, most importantly, it aids in developing a logical, common sense approach to handling issues with a people-centric view. The core elements of the program are extremely conducive to teaching the basics of consensus building and individual problem solving. This program lays the groundwork upon which you can build the next step of stability into your processes.

Job Relations teaches the foundations of positive employee relations. Developing and maintaining these good relationships prevents problems from arising and is paramount to earn loyalty and cooperation from others.

Union Job Relations (UJR) follows the same methodology and principles as the Job Relations program, but is customized specifically for union stewards and leaders. The demand for the program was driven by unions such as Steelworkers, UAW, AFL, and CIO after many attended and embraced the standard Job Relations program. The foundations and 4-step method are modeled around creating positive union relations.

Job Relations teaches the foundations of positive employee relations. Developing and maintaining these good relationships prevents problems from arising and is paramount to earn loyalty and cooperation from others.

Improving the way jobs are done for continual improvement.

Job Methods Training neatly wraps up your continuous improvement program by building on the skills of the operators and first line leaders (team leaders, supervisors, group leaders…). The aim of the program is to produce greater quantities of quality products in less time by making the best use of the people, machines, and materials currently available. Participants are taught how to break down jobs into their constituent operations. Every detail is questioned in a systematic manner to generate ideas for improvement. New methods are developed by eliminating, combining, rearranging, and simplifying steps in the process.

Job Methods will enhance most team-based continuous improvement programs by delivering a high volume of small incremental improvements from individuals. Job Methods provides a system to get the most out of manpower, machines and materials currently available. It conditions and develops individuals to break down a job into its details and eliminates wasteful tasks, combines and rearranges necessary tasks, and simplifies those tasks that are required.

Creating a safe workplace.

Based on the TWI instructional model, Job Safety training (JS) is a complementary program focused on environmental health and safety. JS provides a framework for supervisors to engage employees in identifying potential hazards and eliminating them in conjunction with their training and knowledge in OSHA and EPA regulations. JS was developed in Japan and, although it was not part of the original TWI program, it plays a critical role in industry today. This program teaches supervisors a method to analyze the chain of events leading to accidents and hazardous situations. Root causes are identified and remediated to "break the chain." JS stresses that the relationship of the supervisor and employees plays a pivotal role in a safe and environmentally responsible workplace.

Problem Solving

Most companies want their front line supervisors to be self-sufficient and to solve the problems they face rather than wait for someone else to do it for them. The TWI Problem Solving program consolidates and integrates the proven TWI methodologies of JI, JR, and JM under one plan for this purpose. Companies already employing one or more of the TWI skills can leverage these supervisory abilities and gain even more value from them. It gives renewed meaning to the TWI methods with a more specific focus — Problem Solving.